Carton



y 4, 1965 v. H. COLLINS ETAL 3,181,772

CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1962 INIaI lulvlnlxlll INVENTORS. VERA/0H H. COZLl/YS y 4, 1965 v. H. COLLINS ETAL 3,181,772

CARTON Filed May 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. VEQ/YO/Y H COLL/IVS BY h/MZ/A/V J GOETSC/l/l/S United States Patent 3,181,772 CARTON Vernon H. Collins, Merchantville, and William J.

Goetschius, Delair, N.J., assignors to Weyerhaeuser Company, Tacoma, Wasln, a corporation of Washington Filed May 21, 1962, Ser. No. 196,138 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) This invention relates to a receptacle which may be carried and opened easily, and particularly relates to a paperboard carton which may be stacked easily, carried easily and opened easily.

Present day merchandising practice is tending toward the sale of groups of articles rather than individual articles. This is especiallytrue in the sale of cans or bottles of liquids. One drawback to the sale of such groups is the fact that the receptacle for the group may be bulky, difficult to carry, difficult to open and diflicult to store. In many instances, the provision of a handle for carrying the receptacle makes it difiicult to stack the receptacles during storage and display.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a receptacle that is easy to stack, easy to carry, easy to open and easy to store. It is a further object of this invention to provide a carton having a handle that will not interfere with the stacking or storage of the carton.

These and other objects of this invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of blank for the present carton FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the assembled carton with portions cut away to show details of construction.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of one end of the carton showing details of the handle construction.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the other end of the carton showing details of the tear tab feature of the carton.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the opened carton showing details of the interior construction of the carton.

The numeral 10, FIGURE 1, indicates a preferred form of blank for the carton 100, shown in assembled form in FIGURE 2. This blank has a pair of side extensions 11 hingedly connected to a central section 12 along a pair of longitudinal score lines 13. The central section 12 is divided into an outer first end panel 20, a top panel 21, a second end panel 22, a bottom panel 23 and an inner first end panel 24 by a series of transverse score or fold lines 30, 31, 32 and 33.

Aligned with transverse score lines 30, 31 and 32, respectively, are transverse slots 40, 41 and 42 which divide the side extensions 11 into a series of flaps. These flaps-first end flaps 50, top flaps 51, second end flaps 52, and bottom flaps 53-are connected hingedly to their respective central panels 20, 21, 22 and 23 along score lines 13.

In forming the carton, the central panels are bent around the transverse score lines 30, 31, 32 and 33, and the outer face of end panel 24 is adhered to the inner face of end panel 20. The carton is squared and filled with articles, such as cans or bottles. End flaps 50 and 52 are bent inwardly along score lines 13 until they cover portions of the open sides of the carton. Top and bottom flaps 51 and 53 are bent inwardly around score lines 13 until they overlay end flaps 50 and 52 and cover the open sides of the carton. The top and bottom flaps are then adhered to the end flaps. The carton thus formed may be easily stacked and displayed until it is purchased.

After purchased, the carton may be carried easily by 3,181,772 Patented May 4, 1965 means of the handle 60 in end panel 20. Handle 60, having a hand hole 61 therein, is defined by a transverse score line 70 and a pair of longitudinal discontinuous slits 71 in end panel 20. Slits 71, which are parallel to and located inwardly of score lines 13, preferably extend from the outer edge of panel 20 to transverse score line 70, and define, with score lines 13, glue tabs 62 on each side of handle 60. These glue tabs 62, as well as the upper portion 63 of panel 20 adjacent score line 70, are adhered to panel 24. Prior to severance of slits 71 these glue tabs 62 hold the handle 60, which is not adhered to panel 24, in the plane of panel 20.

The handle may be placed in use by grasping either its outer edge or the hand hole 61 and pulling upwardly. This separates handle 60 from glue tabs 62 along discontinuous slits 71 and permits handle 60 to rotate upwardly from panel 20 around score line 70 and to assume a vertical position at right angles to the plane of panel 20. If desired a hand hole flap (not illustrated) may be provided for a better carrying surface.

In order to open the carton 100, a tear strip is provided in second end panel 22. Tear strip 80 is parallel with score line 70, and, as illustrated, is preferably in horizontal alignment with score line 70 with respect to the bottom wall 23. Tear strip 80 and score line 70 are also in alignment with the juncture of top flaps 51 and bottom flaps 53. To further facilitate the opening of the carton, end flaps 50 and 52 have discontinuous slits 81 and 82 in alignment, respectively, with score line 70 and tear tab 80. Thus the carton may be opened by removing tear strip 80, dividing end panel 22 into upper and lower sections; and pulling the upper section of end panel 22 upwardly, separating end flaps 52 and 50 into upper and lower sections along discontinuous slits 82 and 81 and forming upper and lower sections and 91 of the carton 100. The upper section 90 is then rotated upwardly from lower section 91 around score line 70 allowing easy access to the contents of the carton.

Thus, it may be seen that a carton which may be stacked easily, stored easily, carried easily and opened easily is provided. Although a single preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, it should be realized that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What we claim is:

l. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a firstlend wall extending between said top and bottom was,

said first end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said first end wall into top and bottom sections,

said first end wall comprising inner and outer panels, one of said panels extending from said top wall and the other of said panels extending from said bottom walls, each of said panels extending to a position beyond said transverse score line,

the section of said inner panel beyond said transverse score line being aflixed to said outer panel,

said outer panel having a pair of longitudinal slits therein extending from the outer edge of said panel to said transverse score line, said slit-s defining a central handle portion and a pair of side tabs,

said side tabs being aflixed to said inner panel;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom Walls,

said second end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by a tear strip in said second end wall, said tear stiip being parallel to said transverse score ine;

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

said side walls having a line of demarcation extending between said tear strip and said transverse score line.

2. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said first end wall into top and bottom sections,

said first end wall comprising inner and outer panels, one of said panels extending from said top wall and the other of said panels extending from said bottom wall, each of said panels extending to a position beyond said transverse score line,

the section of said inner panel beyond said transverse score line being affixed to said outer panel,

said outer panel having a pair of longitudinal slits extending from the outer edge of said panel to said transverse score line, said slits defining a central handle portion and a pair of side tabs,

said side tabs being affixed to said inner panel;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by a tear strip in said second end wall, said tear strip and said transverse score line being in a plane that is substantially parallel with said top and bottom walls; and

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

said side walls having a line of demarcation extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip.

3. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said first end Wall into top and bottom sections,

said first end wall comprising inner and outer panels, one of said panels extending from said top wall and the other of said panels extending from said bottom wall, each of said panels extending to a position beyond said transverse score line,

the section of said inner panel beyond said transverse score line being afiixed to said outer panel,

said outer panel having a pair of longitudinal slits extending from the outer edge of said panel to said transverse score line, said slits defining a central handle portion and a pair of side tabs,

said side tabs being afiixed to said inner panel;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by a tear strip in said second end wall, said tear strip being parallel to said transverse score line;

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

said side walls comprising end flaps extending from said end walls, and i top and bottom flaps extending respectively from said top and bottom walls, and being fastened to said end flaps,

the juncture of said top and bottom flaps extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip,

said end flaps having slits therein in alignement with said juncture.

4. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said first end wall into top and bottom sections,

said first end wall comprising inner and outer panels, one of said panels extending from said top wall and the other of said panels extending from said bottom Wall, each of said panels extending to a position beyond said transverse score line,

the section of said inner panel beyond said transverse score line being affixed to said outer panel,

said outer panel having a pair of longitudinal slits extending from the outer edge of said panel to said transverse score line, said slits defining a central handle portion and a pair of side tabs,

said side tabs being afiixed to said inner panel;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by a tear strip in said second end wall, said tear strip and said transverse score line being in a plane that is substantially parallel with said top and bottom walls; and

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

said side walls comprising end flaps extending from said end walls,

top and bottom flaps extending respectively from said top and bottom walls, and being fastened to said end flaps,

the juncture of said top and bottom flaps extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip,

said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said juncture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,004,358 Wolf June 11, 1935 2,596,331 Ferguson May 13, 1952 2,614,745 Fallert Oct. 21, 1952 2,684,178 Keeler July 20, 1954 2,849,112 Forrer Aug. 26, 1958 3,043,490 Burnett July 10, 1962 3,097,784 Schaus July 16, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 459,734 Great Britain Jan. 14, 1937 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner, 

1. A CARTON COMPRISING TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS; A FIRST END WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, SAID FIRST END WALL HAVING A TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE THEREIN DIVIDING SAID FIRST END WALL INTO TOP AND BOTTOM SECTIONS, SAID FIRST END WALL COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER PANELS, ONE OF SAID PANELS EXTENDING FROM SAID TOP WALL AND THE OTHER OF SAID PANELS EXTENDING FROM SAID BOTTOM WALLS, EACH OF SAID PANELS EXTENDING TO A POSITION BEYOND SAID TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE, THE SECTION OF SAID INNER PANEL BEYOND SAID TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE BEING AFFIXED TO SAID OUTER PANEL, SAID OUTER PANEL HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL SLITS THEREIN EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID PANEL TO SAID TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE, SAID SLITS DEFINING A CENTRAL HANDLE PORTION AND A PAIR OF SIDE TABS, SAID SIDE TABS BEING AFFIXED TO SAID INNER PANEL; 